The prolonged detention of renowned Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez has drawn renewed condemnation, with National Conference leader Ruhullah Mehdi calling it a “calculated attack” on the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people.
In a strongly worded statement posted on social media, Mehdi criticized the BJP-RSS regime for keeping Parvez in what he described as “unlawful captivity” for over 1,400 days. “His imprisonment is not only an assault on his dignity, but a calculated attack on the collective rights and freedoms of all Kashmiris,” he stated.
Parvez, a program coordinator for the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), has been internationally recognized for his work documenting human rights violations in the region. He was arrested in November 2021 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), sparking global concern from human rights organizations, including the United Nations.
Mehdi’s statement reflects broader fears that Parvez’s detention is part of a larger effort to suppress dissent and dismantle civil society structures in Kashmir. “By silencing Khurram, they seek to strip the people of Kashmir of the very sense of protection and accountability that a vigilant human rights defender provides,” he said.
He further called for Parvez’s “immediate and unconditional release,” labeling the ongoing incarceration as emblematic of a broader “agenda against the people of Kashmir.”
Rights groups continue to urge the Indian government to uphold due process and international human rights obligations.
